Nations Clinch Landmark Pact To Fight Climate Change

By:

Merrit Kennedy

More than 150 countries have reached a landmark deal in Kigali, Rwanda to reduce emissions of a powerful chemical used in refrigeration and air conditioning.

The U.N. calls this a "breakthrough" against climate change because the pact signed Saturday could prevent global temperatures from rising "up to 0.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century" – though some experts say the impact may fall short of 0.5 degrees.

This deal tackles hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), which are commonly used in refrigerators and air conditioners. This type of greenhouse gas is extremely powerful – it can trap "thousands of times more heat in the Earth's atmosphere than carbon dioxide," according to the United Nations Environment Programme.

The U.N. says Saturday's agreement is a major step toward the goal of "keeping the global temperature rise 'well below' 2 degrees Celsius, a target agreed at the Paris climate conference last year."

The major climate accord reached in Paris last December offers voluntary pledges, as The New York Times reported, which are "often vague and dependent on the political will of future leaders." This new deal offers "offers specific timetables to replace HFCs with more planet-friendly alternatives," and "maintains the legal force of a treaty," according to the Times.

In comparison to the Paris accord, the outcome of the Kigali agreement "could have an equal or even greater impact on efforts to slow down the heating of the planet," as the Times reported.

"This is about much more than the ozone layer and HFCs. It is a clear statement by all world leaders that the green transformation started in Paris is irreversible and unstoppable," U.N. Environment chief Erik Solheim said in a statement. "It shows the best investments are those in clean, efficient technologies."

The agreement, which is billed as a compromise, sets out a schedule for countries to phase down their HFC consumption.

"Developed countries will start to phase down HFCs by 2019," UNEP said. That includes the U.S. and the European Union. "Developing countries will follow with a freeze of HFCs consumption levels in 2024, with some countries freezing consumption in 2028."

The countries starting to reduce their emissions in 2028 include India, Pakistan, and some Gulf states, as The Associated Press reported. They had lobbied for a later start, "saying their economies need more time to grow."

According to the BBC, China, "the world's largest producer of HFCs, will not actually start to cut their production or use until 2029."

The delayed start given to major emissions producers like China and India is causing some environmental advocates to question whether the agreement can actually fulfill its promise of preventing global temperatures from rising 0.5 degrees.

"They needed an agreement here as it's seen as an Obama legacy, so the US delegation has been pretty aggressive in making China and India get to an agreement," Paula Tejon Carbajal from Greenpeace International tells the BBC. "It's an incremental step towards 0.5 degrees but its not there yet, they say that the market will work to get us there, but we are not there yet."

Still, this is the "largest temperature reduction ever achieved by a single agreement," as the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development termed it. The group's president, Durwood Zaelke, said this agreement amounted to about 90 percent of what they were hoping for – and he's optimistic that market transformation will take care of the rest.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said this was "is likely the single most important step we could take at this moment to limit the warming of our planet and limit the warming for generations to come," as the Times reported. He added that it is "the biggest thing we can do in one giant swoop."

The pact is an amendment to 1987's Montreal Protocol, which the U.N. credits for "a 98 percent decrease in the production and use of ozone-damaging chemicals."

Upcoming Events

Kansas Public Radio and Maceli’s are hosting their second Songwriters Showcase, featuring local musicians Colin Halliburton, Sky Smeed and Kelly Hunt.

Join us on Saturday, March 3, at Maceli's (1031 New Hampshire St). Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Sky Smeed is a well-known local Americana singer-songwriter who has often been compared to Neil Young and Gram Parsons. Colin Halliburton, who often performs under the musical moniker The Roseline, describes his music as "alt-country bummer music, with a hint of hope." Accompanied by her 1920s tenor banjo, Kelly Hunt’s songs meld traditions of folk, blues, classic country, and old-time music for a sound that is all her own.

Tickets are $10 at the door and advance tickets are available for $10.50 at macelis.com. The musicians are generously donating their time and talent to the concert, and proceeds will benefit KPR. Beverages will be available for purchase at the event.

Description: Experience a rare journey through Celtic music in the hands of world-renowned piper Fred Morrison. In Kansas City for one evening only, Mr. Morrison, a native of West Scotland, possesses a repertoire rooted in the music of his father's native South Uist, in the outer Hebrides. Although his first-love instrument remains the great Highland bagpipes, over the years his mastery has expanded to encompass whistles, Scottish smallpipes and reelpipes, and Irish Uilleann pipes. All of this music is expertly woven into a musical adventure that reaches back centuries and forges links to Celtic cousins in Brittany and northwest Spain. Fred is joined by members of Kansas City's own award-winning St. Andrew Pipes & Drums for an unforgettable evening of music. Limited tickets are available so purchase in advance to assure your seat. Tickets may be available at the door. Submitted by: Zach Cochran Kansas City St. Andrew Pipes & Drums

Description: KU Natural History Museum & Free State Brewing Co., A Science on Tap Event: Early Life Experiences, Trauma, and Hope With Dr. Jackie Counts, Director of KU’s Center for Public Partnerships & Research Science on Tap Wednesday, February 21 7:30pm Free State Brewing Company Early life experiences may have long-lasting effects on individuals’ relationships and health. Dr. Jackie Counts, Director of KU’s Center for Public Partnerships & Research will lead a discussion about the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study. You will have an opportunity to learn your own ACE score and come away with tools to promote hope and resilience. More information at biodiversity.ku.edu. Submitted by: KU Biodiversity KU Natural History Museum